The Statute Of Limitations In New York is a legal term which means the time in which a lawsuit must be started to be legally sufficient. In New York State, there are numerous statutes of limitations for various different types of cases. For example, in New York motor vehicle accident cases, the statute of limitations is three years from the date of the accident. This means that even if the case is filed one day past the three year anniversary of the motor vehicle accident in New York, the case is legally defective and will be dismissed.
In New York medical malpractice cases, there is more than one type of statute of limitation, but a classic example of a doctor performing surgery on the wrong body part would have a statute of limitation of two and one half years from the date of the last treatment with that doctor.
The critical lesson to be learned from any review of statutes of limitation in New York is that when you are in a New York slip and fall accident, an automobile accident, are the victim of medical malpractice, or have suffered injury from a defective product, to use a few examples, you should contact an attorney as soon as possible. Always keep in mind that the clock is running from the moment the accident or incident occurs, and even if you are unsure whether to start a lawsuit or not, there is no harm in getting a free consultation as to what your legal options are.